One channel in my phono rig has gone out. Amp? No; CD has both channels. Phono stage? No; tried two different stages and two different sets of interconnects from table (Prime) to phono stage.

So I decided to check the tonearm wire connections to cartridge, and it was then that I noticed an oily substance around the base of the bell and on parts of the counterweight shaft. The oily substance had also dripped onto the meta dog-leg. I also noticed soft blisters on the bell. Oy vey! It never gets excessively hot in the house and the table is away from windows.

Steveo, it sounds like you have the same problem I had, and posted on a couple of weeks ago: a crying 3D arm. VPI is aware of the problem (some 3D arms weren't completely cured, leaving some residual fluid in the armtubes). They swapped mine, and I sure if you're having the same issue, they will do right by you. Call Marc at VPI. Good Luck!

PS - How do you like your ART 7? I've been using one for a couple of years, and love it on my HRX/12" Fatboy.

Teenage Diplomat:Yes, I recall reading your post about the fatboy. I was thinking tonight: how could a "crying" 3D arm cause one channel to go out (see my post for details)?Is there a way to check the tonearm wires' integrity with a volt-ohm meter?

I love the ART-7. Originally heard it on John Elison's SOTA table. Bought his back-up art-7.

steveo wrote:Teenage Diplomat:Yes, I recall reading your post about the fatboy. I was thinking tonight: how could a "crying" 3D arm cause one channel to go out (see my post for details)?Is there a way to check the tonearm wires' integrity with a volt-ohm meter?

I love the ART-7. Originally heard it on John Elison's SOTA table. Bought his back-up art-7.

BRF: how do I put the test lead from the multimiter on the lemo connector at the end of the tonearm wire? I guess I can hook up the arm to the junction box and put a lead on the inside or outside of a phono jack?

steveo wrote:BRF: how do I put the test lead from the multimiter on the lemo connector at the end of the tonearm wire? I guess I can hook up the arm to the junction box and put a lead on the inside or outside of a phono jack?

Plug the lemo connector into the junction box and test the tonearm clip wires to the rca jack as noted below

With a multimeter checked: the tonearm wire/junction box: good The interconnects: goodThen checked the cartridge pins: one channel reads 12 ohms, the other 1 ohm. My ART-7 is bad. Terrible.What would cause these ohm readings? If a coil has broken, wouldn't you get an ohm reading of infinity?